Wednesday, March 31, 2010

I need your advice

I’m starting to plan the 2010 Public Square Rosary Crusade, which is set for October 16, and I need your advice on a few issues.

For example:

1 - Do you think I should send a free rally banner to each new Rosary Rally Captain?

2 - It costs me about $20 to print and send each banner.  Is that is a wise use of Our Lady’s funds, or should I ask each captain to make their own banner?

3 - Can you think of better, more visible places for rally captains to do their rosary rally?

Please send me your thoughts so I can share them with others.

4 – How can we make the 2010 Public Square Rosary Crusade even better than the 2009 one?

5 – What kind of advice do people like to receive from me about how to put on a rosary rally?

6 – Was there something you experienced last year concerning the rosary rallies that you think we can improve for this year?

7 – Do you know someone who would like to volunteer this year at Our Lady’s Rosary Rally office in Kansas to help recruit more rally captains?

Please write to and tell me at reritchie@gmail.com.

Thank you most kindly.

Robert

Protest a blasphemy planned for Easter Sunday

Sign an urgent protest against the play Corpus Christi set to show on Easter Sunday at the Church of the Foothills

                      

Please join America Needs Fatima in protesting the blasphemous play Corpus Christi at the Church of the Foothills in Santa Ana, California.

According to the press reports, Corpus Christi includes a Christ-like figure who has homosexual relations with his apostles! Besides, the play uses Gospel passages in a contrived way. The New York Post, for example, reported:

‘“Art Thou King of the queers?’ McNally’s Pontius Pilate character asks. ‘Thou sayest,’ Joshua answers.”

You now have a unique chance to defend Jesus’ honor by peacefully, but loudly raising your voice against this blasphemy.

CLICK HERE to send your protest message.

We protest – as we always do – in a totally legal and peaceful way.   Also, please pass on this protest message to your friends and family.

And, above all, pray and offer sacrifice to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in reparation for this blasphemy.

CLICK HERE to read and pray your prayer of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Church of the Foothills
19211 Dodge Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phone: 714 544-1319
Fax: 714 573-7722
Email: churchoffice@chotf.org

2,000 Stand up for Life at 1st ever Brussels Pro-life March

BY Hilary White

BRUSSELS, March 30, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Organizers of the first March for Life in Brussels say they are pleased with the international turn-out at the event on Sunday, March 28, with crowds estimated to number about 2000. March organizer Elizabeth Hickson told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN), “We really had no idea what to expect but we were full of excitement despite all the lack of sleep and pressures.”

The event was intended to be a non-political, non-religious “neutral platform where many organizations could come together despite their differences and be united for the end to abortion,” Hickson said.

Marchers were addressed by the recently-appointed Archbishop of Brussels, André-Mutien Léonard, who read a letter from Pope Benedict XVI.

After months of organization and publicity, organizers were delighted with the turn-out from student groups all over Europe. Police had told organizers they expected 300, but finally estimated the crowd as at least 1700.

“We put up our banners and passers-by started asking questions. A whole car of Russians driving by were so shocked so excited they decided to delay their trip and join us. The same thing happened with a group of vacationing Spaniards,” Hickson said.

Speakers included representatives of pro-life and youth groups around Europe, including Cry for Life and Silent No More in the Netherlands, Youth for Life Germany, Youth for Life Austria. Ireland, Spain, Poland, Belgium and the U.S. were also represented.

The Brussels March for Life was the brainchild of Michel de Keukelaere, Hickson said, who came up with the idea independently a year ago. In the end, it was the result of the work of a small group of students and local families who funded it out of their own pockets and with local private donations.

The Brussels group is already planning next year’s event, scheduled for March 27, 2011.

Hickson said, “We wish to say to the media and to the governments that we are a   new generation for a culture and society for life. We love our countries and our women, and abortion is deeply wounding both.”

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/mar/10033007.html

Pelosi asked former Notre Dame president to help sway lawmaker on health care

Los Angeles, Calif., Mar 30, 2010 / 06:50 pm (EWTN News)

In the hours leading up the health care vote on March 23, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, former president of the University of Notre Dame, to help her sway an undecided House vote in favor of the health care bill.

According the to Los Angeles Times, Speaker Pelosi wanted Fr. Hesburgh to assist her in convincing Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), who was reportedly wavering on the abortion funding language in the bill, to vote yes on health care reform.

Though details of the conversation between the speaker and Fr. Hesburgh were not disclosed, Rep. Donnelly ultimately voted in favor of the health care bill on March 23.

In a March 23 statement, Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, denounced the health care bill as deficient for its use of federal funding for abortion and its lack of conscience protections and care for immigrants.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Loving and learning from Our Lady of Sorrows

The concept of Our Lady of Sorrows comes from the prophecy of Simeon who, thirty-three years in advance, foretold to Our Lady that a sword would pierce her heart. This prophecy proves that we can suffer spiritual reversals even when we live a glorious life. Given the existence of sin, life is full of expiation and struggle.

File:Dolores.jpg

The Presentation begins with the prophet Simeon taking the Child Jesus in his arms and prophesying:

“Now Thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.” Hearing that prophecy, Our Lady became even more aware of the immense glory of the Divine Child.


After blessing Our Lady, Simeon then said: “Behold this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted.”

Thus, after predicting a magnificent future, he announced a life of terrible struggle. Then, turning to her, he said: “And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.”

He thus announced to Our Lady not only the terrible struggle Our Lord would face but also that a sword would pierce her soul. In other words, she knew in advance that she would have to endure one of the most atrocious sufferings a person could bear.

Lessons for Modern Man

This sequence of events has valuable lessons for modern man. It is evident that God wanted the Christ Child to be the victorious king mentioned in Simeon’s prophecy, yet modern man finds it difficult to explain logically how a wise and consistent God would put Him through all those struggles that would end up in defeat.

Modern man reasons that it would be according to the natural order of things established by God’s wisdom not to allow this suffering and defeat.

Why should there be the mystery of this terrible moment announcing this sword that would pierce Our Lady’s Heart? How can we understand God allowing such great suffering and apparent defeat?

The reason for this perplexity comes from a modern mentality that does not know how to deal with the setbacks of the spiritual life and apostolate. Many people simply do not understand why they should be tempted when they are doing well in their spiritual life. Why does Our Lady allow us to sin and displease her?

It appears to be a contradiction. If the objective of sanctity is clear, then it would seem normal for everything to move orderly and consistently toward that end? How do we explain the setbacks?

“Happy End” Mindset
Here we see a reflection of the “happy end” mentality found in Hollywood films where things always end up right. According to this erroneous mindset, we must harbor the certainty that everything must have a happy ending, for man is called to be happy and victorious on this earth. When things do not end up well, then we have the sensation that life is a failure.

This “happy end” mentality intoxicates our minds so that we are unable to understand how God’s plans are accomplished. Given the existence of sin, the fall of the angels and the fall of man, human life has a character not only of trial, but also of expiation and struggle.

Divine Providence acts with wisdom, when allowing the good to have setbacks, sicknesses, temptations, or fights with adversaries. Providence also allows all these things to befall us in situations in which we do not understand why they are happening to us.

Suffering is normal in this life. It is normal that many things yield bad results and even turn out wrong or at least, different than intended.

However, for His greater glory, God draws from bad results, something better and more brilliant than we could imagine even if we had good results. These unexpected sufferings and trials are not only something that sinful man must suffer, they also correspond to a punishment for the sins we may have committed.

They are a proof of our love to God since we must lovingly render to Him, blind confidence, detachment and abnegation. This is highly formative for men. However it only has value to the degree that we accept these sufferings with a supernatural spirit rather than complaining about them. We must accept these trials as a soldier who moves forward in the fight.

The Mystery of Simeon’s Prophecy
Here one understands the mystery of Simeon’s prophecy. According to the modern mindset, it would have been better not to advise Our Lady of her sorrow thirty-three years in advance. It would have been better to circumvent the issue and keep quiet about it.

Even at the hour Our Lord was to be crucified, she should be spared that terrible sorrow by avoiding it altogether.
However, Our Lady carried the knowledge of this sorrow her whole life. She saw it coming from afar. Thus, her immaculate soul, conceived without Original Sin, gradually grew in perfection and sanctity by the long consideration and acceptance of the sorrow that was to come.

Even for Our Lady’s immaculate soul, we can understand that a strong, courageous, reasonable and, we could even say, manly calculation of future sorrows would be an element of growing union with God.

From the very first instant of her being, Our Lady’s very intense union with God was unfathomable. However, she was intentionally given to carry her sorrow for thirty three years with the understanding that we were born to suffer. It is normal for us to suffer and it is necessary to accept pain entirely before it comes. And when suffering does come, it should find us calm, faithful, dauntless and heroic, for this is how we must be in the face of pain and sorrow.

The Garden of Olives
Thus, we can find an analogy between the life of Our Lord and Our Lady. She spent thirty-three years of her life in the Garden of Olives. She foresaw all the sorrow amidst indescribable joys. She saw her Divine Son grow and prepare for His public life. She could see that piercing sword of sorrow awaiting her as she saw Him leave home, heard the rumors being spread about Him, and noticed the growing hatred against Him from all sides.

The forces of evil were preparing the most atrocious coup against her Son, and she, who adored Him as her God and Son, sensing the horrible sin being prepared, accepted the trial of facing up to the coming events.

The end result of this preparation was that she was ready for the most magnificent hour of her life. While all men deserted Our Crucified Lord, Our Lady stood at the foot of the Cross. In spite of the terrible suffering, at no moment was she disoriented. She did not lose her self- control or wish to flee. All these vile passions would be unbefitting for her, filled as she was with the most excellent virtues elevated to the highest degree.

No one had ever suffered so much while maintaining such complete self-control and understanding of the logic of what was happening. Our Lady did this with so much strength and poise, and hatred of evil. We can even sense her hatred for evil in that she knew that evil would be entirely crushed at the moment that her Divine Son expired.

our_lady_of_sorrow

While all men deserted
Our Crucified Lord,
Our Lady stood at the
foot of the Cross.

A Hatred of Evil
During the whole time of the Passion, she took the following attitude: I adore my Son, but if it be necessary to sacrifice Him to crush the devil, defeat the power of darkness and annihilate the Revolution, I consent to His death. I immolate Him for this end, so to speak.

This sword I plunge into my own heart, so that the devil and his Revolution be crushed forever. I unite myself with the most holy intentions of the Father and Holy Ghost to make this frightful sacrifice. With this in mind, I want what is happening on the Cross and I want it at every instant with all the intensity of my being.

If this does not define a combative and fighting spirit and disposition to crush the enemy, then nothing can define it. This stance was a consequence of her preparation during those thirty-three years.

Analogy with Our Lord
What does this have in common with the life of Our Lord and the Garden of Olives? Our Lord meditated and saw everything that would befall Him in the Garden of Olives. He then began to feel horror and terror at what was going to happen and prayed: “Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me, but yet not my will, but Thine be done.”

In saying this, He affirmed that He wanted all this suffering in order to attain a certain result. This shows supreme control, supreme calm, and supreme generosity. It indicates what the temperament of a Catholic must be when facing suffering and the love that we must have for suffering. To fulfill our vocation, we must understand this well and practice it.

Our Sword of Sorrow
This teaches us to be imbued with the following idea: It is normal in our tremendous fight that there will be many moments when a sword of sorrow will pierce our souls.

As has happened in the past, we may appear defeated, disoriented and abandoned by Providence. However we must recite the psalm Our Lord prayed on the Cross: My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? We have to place ourselves before this perspective because these things will happen since our fight is not always a victory parade.

We should ask Our Lady to obtain for us the grace to love and desire this sword of sorrow and start preparing our life immediately for that hour. For just as the finest hour in Our Lady’s life was that of the sword and fidelity, together with the Incarnation, so we can also say that the great hour of our life was not the one when we were called to the struggles of life but when we persevered – the hour of the sword piercing our heart. What must characterize us should be our vision, resignation, and even more, our healthy and balanced desire for this hour.

It is said that when Our Lord received the Cross, he wept, embraced and kissed it with great tenderness, for He had always longed for it. Would that at the hour of our sword we might also weep in a manly fashion with emotion, kiss that sword with great tenderness and say we have always longed for it. On this feast of Sorrows, let us ask Our Lady to obtain for us the grace of loving that sword.

The above is an adaptation of a talk given on April 9, 1965 by Prof. Plinio Correa de Oliveira.

Monday, March 29, 2010

You prayed. You protested. And God won.


What a stunning victory. 

I am thrilled to tell you that Tarleton State University in Texas pulled the plug on a highly blasphemous play called Corpus Christi. 

Yes. The performance was finally CANCELED on Friday, March 26, and will not be rescheduled according to an official news release issued by the university.

Read how it all happened here.

This victory could not have been achieved without your help.  Thank you for your prayers, your readiness to take action and your commitment to defend moral values.

Let’s thank Our Lady for this victory, and let is continue "fighting the good fight."

With warmest regards and wishing you a most blessed Holy Week.

See more articles for Holy Week at www.ANF.org

Bomb Destroys Fatima Chapel

Most people don’t know this amazing fact:

The enemies of the Church, on March 6, 1922, put a powerful bomb at the little, original Fatima chapel at Cova da Iria, that blew the place to bits.

On May 13, as a response, a pilgrimage of reparation took place with the presence of over 60,000 people from all regions of Portugal. In December, reconstruction of the chapel started.

Thus, in spite of the violence of the adversaries, devotion to Our Lady of Fatima was victoriously gaining ground.

A very important development took place when Pope Pius XI, receiving the students of the Portuguese College in Rome on January 9, 1929, gave each one of them two holy cards of Our Lady of Fatima: one for them, the other to be sent to their families.

In October 1929, at the request of that College’s president, the Pope himself blessed a statue of Our Lady of Fatima sculpted by Portuguese artist José Tedim for the College’s chapel.

These events are related in the Report of the Canonical Commission of the Diocese of Leiria, which concluded that the apparitions were authentic.

Finally, on October 13, 1930, Bishop José Alves Correia da Silva published a pastoral letter approving devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. Previously, in 1928, he had already approved construction of the Basilica of Fatima, for which he had purchased the plots at Cova da Iria.

In a short time the devotion spread throughout the world; and that little corner of Portugal, hidden in the Serra do Aire, became one of the world’s premier centers of Catholic pilgrimage.

Some Background History: The Hostile Campaign Continues

As usual, when liberals run out of arguments, all that’s left is violence. In the name of freedom naturally. That way, they reveal the “thoughts of their hearts.”

So it was that a violent campaign against Fatima was unleashed in the anticlerical press everywhere, promoted by the “partisans of progress and liberty.”

On October 23, as reported by the daily Diário de Notícias, a band of liberals from Vila Nova de Ourém went to Cova da Iria in the still of the night and hacked down the tree of the apparitions. When Lucia heard about it she ran to the place and, much to her joy, she saw they had cut down the wrong tree, one close to the holm oak on which Our Lady had landed. The latter, which had been reduced to a trunk because the faithful had taken all its branches as relics, remained standing there.

Taking to Santarém the bits and pieces of the little tree and the adornments the faithful had placed in the area, the anticlericals began to make shameful parodies of it but had to stop owing to the general indignation of the people, including non-churchgoers.

The Apparitions Cease, Pilgrimages Increase

When the apparitions ceased, pilgrimages to the place continued. That caused a great financial loss for Lucia’s family, as it was no longer possible to plant anything in the whole area of Cova da Iria.

The faithful would leave offers in species and in money, collected by Maria Carreira, the zealous devotee of the apparitions, to fulfill the Blessed Mother’s request to have a chapel built there in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. For that reason, the good lady became known as “Maria da Capelinha” or “Mary of the Little Chapel.”

In 1919, with the authorization of Lucia’s mother and the discreet acquiescence of the parish priest of Fatima, who could not commit himself until the Religious Authority made a pronouncement on the matter, the construction of the little chapel started.

Restoration of the Diocese of Leiria

The diocese of Leiria, to which the village belonged, had been created in the 16th century and was suppressed at the end of the 19th century. That placed Fatima under the jurisdiction of the faraway Patriarchate of Lisbon.

In January 1918, the Holy See restored the diocese but the new bishop, Dom José Alves Correia da Silva, was appointed only in 1920.

A good prayer is always heeded

The necessity of trying to see the imponderables and hear the interior voices

People have an interior instinct that tells them that this belongs to the order of Providence.

In this, we see very different ways for souls. We find everything in the lives of the saints. Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus, for example, had that resolution of "not asking anything and not refusing anything."

Now, she, who had that habit, is the saint who most encouraged petitions from earth.  Her intention was to spend Heaven doing good and showering earth with roses.  She stimulates people to ask.

Her way was one; other souls show many diverse ways.  An example of a petition not meant in the way of Saint Therese is that of Saint Scholastica.

She knew by revelation that Saint Benedict's death was imminent. If I am not mistaken, she went to a place close to Monte Casino, where Saint Benedict was living, to converse with him. Suddenly, night comes and Saint Benedict wants to leave. Saint Scholastica objects and asks him to stay, but he refuses.

She cries a bit, then prays, and a terrible storm breaks. Saint Benedict asks, "My sister, what have you done?"

She answers, "God is better than you; I asked you, but you did not listen to me; I asked God and He heeded me."

You see, she asked for a great storm in order to detain her brother to talk a little more. It is not "not asking anything and not refusing anything." It is definitely "asking."

It is a spiritual way whereby a different grace touches that soul. There are many mansions in the house of the Heavenly Father. When the soul prays well, it finds its proper way.

Here is surely a case of the graces that God always gives. We must pray to persist along that way. It needs be said, however, that God wants us to remain in a certain twilight, for it possible for us to err in interpreting the interior voice of God.

Let us consider the example of Saint Joan of Arc. It seems, from what is said about her life, that she never imagined she would die at the stake. That end was not what she considered the natural end of her career. I have a certain impression that she died quite surprised with all that was happening to her. Of course, she was resigned. But what direction were things taking?

It is revealing, in that vein, that at a certain point she attempted to escape the tower where she was imprisoned, leaping and even hurting herself.

I heard, but we should verify, for I don't know if it is true, that Saint Paul did something similar. He predicted the place of his death and then it did not happen. But, I do not know if it that is true.

The background of all this is the following: We must do God's will.

But there is no disagreement with the principle that we know the will of God about many things and therefore we can legitimately see clearly.

In a certain circumstance in the life of Saint Teresa of Jesus, her Carmelite superior obtained a document from the Pope destroying all her work. After a first movement of perplexity, she ordered all the convents to pray, and she ended up victorious.

How is it possible to be sure that God wants that? Had God so wanted, she may not have attained the same good result. But there was a dynamism that gave her assurance.

Those imponderables exist, and we have to accustom ourselves to them. Super-regulating our spiritual life or becoming impatient with it, is to act against the course established by God.

Consider, for example, Saint Thomas Aquinas. We should always follow his opinion. Now, we know that Saint Thomas erred in certain matters, so much so that he retracted. Only a person who confesses his error retracts.

Nevertheless, we should always follow Saint Thomas's opinion.

What is the meaning of this? It means that we must have a great malleability, a great suppleness]. I may also be mistaken interiorly in things like that and may not see my own way well. That does not mean I can never trust what is made known to me interiorly about my own way. My spiritual director can also err about me. That does not mean that spiritual direction is worthless. This alternative, infallibility or nothing, is obviously not included in the line of Providence.

A good prayer is always heeded

Applying these principles to obtaining material goods, success in tests, health, and everything else, the answer is very simple. We must confide on these terms: When we have well-considered reasons, in accord with good spirit, for regarding this as good and agreeable to Providence, we must trust that we will obtain it.

But if God does not grant what we ask for conditionally -- as it should be -- He will give us something else.

Prayer goes unheeded; it always brings some benefit. For example, I ask God for a watch. If it is not a petition that offends Him if I do not ask out of vanity or stupidity, but He does not give me the watch, He will give me something else. It will be whatever He wants. It could be greater graces. But a good prayer purely and simply never goes unheeded; it is heeded.

Could there be a risk of asking something that God does not want?

For example, when Saint Paul asked that angel to be taken away from him, was there not a risk?

How did Saint Paul ask?  He asked mindful that God might not grant it if it were not for his own sanctification.  And thus we understand how the prayers of the faithful have to be, how the faithful should trust in their prayers, and what that confidence means.

That confidence has a root, a reason for being, but it naturally supposes a very upright interior sense, which we must ask from God. It also supposes, naturally, a good spiritual orientation, because even so, a person easily makes mistakes in this matter.

(Taken from comments of Prof. Plinio on the book of Saint Alphonsus, Prayer: The Great Means of Salvation.  These comments have not been reviewed by the author.)

When we receive the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion, a miracle takes place

       We receive our Lord, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion.  Due to our extremely weak human nature we can forget about this great and daily miracle.  We can even become indifferent to this miracle.  We may even receive Our Lord with piety, yet without the profound adoration and piety worthy of such a miracle.

    It is common for us to imagine living at the time of Our Lord and seeing Him in person.  We marvel at what a magnificent privilege that would be.  We imagine adoring Our Lord at the stable in Bethlehem. We imagine seeing him instructing the learned ones in the temple.  We imagine witnessing the many miracles of Our Lord, such as raising the dead, curing the sick, forgiving sinners, and the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.  We imagine hearing him preach the Sermon on the Mount.

    We imagine His glorious entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  We imagine attending the first Mass on Holy Thursday. We imagine Our Lord's arrest and trial, His scourging, His crowning with thorns.

    We long to console Our Lord accompanying Him on the road to Calvary.  We imagine seeing Him upon the Cross.  We want to be there when Our Lady held Him in Her arms after He was taken down from the Cross. 

    We imagine the Resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Sunday.  We imagine being there when He appeared in the upper room to the Apostles.  Imagine witnessing His Ascension into Heaven.

    These are all excellent meditations that help bring us close to Our Lord.

    As great as these reflections are however, they are less than receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion.  With Holy Communion we do not just see and hear, but Our Lord enters into our lowly body and soul transforming us with His grace.  What is greater seeing and hearing, or receiving the fullness of Our Lord?

    But, we do see and hear Our Lord as well.  We see and hear Our Lord through the Holy Catholic Church, His Mystical Body.  We have the immeasurable honor of being part of that Body and receiving all that Our Lord has to offer us through the Sacraments, through the Sacred Scriptures, through the Holy and Infallible doctrines of the Church and through the Saints Whom Our Lord has sent to give examples so that we might more closely match Our Lives in accordance with the Sacrament that we receive in Holy Communion.

    The next time that we receive Holy Communion let us continue to reflect on being in Our Lord's presence while He was upon earth and let us express our profound adoration and gratitude to God for allowing us to receive much more than those who lived while Our Lord was upon the earth.

    If we persevere and die in the state of Sanctifying Grace then we shall eternally be in the visible presence of Our Lord  as well as be filled with His presence in every way.

    O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

    Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Tarleton State University cancels blasphemous “Corpus Christi” play

AP - STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The performance of a play that portrays Jesus as gay has been canceled at Tarleton State University amid what school officials say are "safety and security concerns."

Critics say the Terrence McNally play "Corpus Christi," which premiered in 1998 in New York, is blasphemous. But the Tarleton student who was directing the production said he chose it to help gay youths who may be struggling with their faith.

Full story here:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6932434.html

Our Lady triumphs in Texas – “Corpus Christi” blasphemy canceled!

Please join me in thanking Our Lady for the latest victory against blasphemy.

I just got news that the blasphemous play “Corpus Christi,” that depicts “Our Lord” and the “apostles” as homosexuals, was canceled at Tarleton State University in Texas.

Thank you for joining this worthy protest, and for helping me reach more people with it over the last few days.

I will post more news on this soon, God willing.

Meanwhile, let us learn the precious lesson that we must always speak up against blasphemy, even when it seems like no one is listening, because more people than we think are upset with all the blasphemy going on and will follow our good example – as long as we speak up!

Friday, March 26, 2010

ANF Member, Therese Slobodnik, Joins The Carmel

    Friday, March 26th is Therese Slobodnik's last day as an employee with America Needs Fatima. 

Therese's last day 004

    On Friday, April 9th she is entering the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Valparaiso, Nebraska.  April 9th is the date that St. Therese of Lisieux entered the Carmel.

    Therese is the eighth young lady who either as a volunteer or an employee with America Needs Fatima has entered the religious life. 

    Please keep her in your prayers.  I know that she will continue to pray unceasingly for every member of America Needs Fatima and for the success of all of its campaigns especially the public square rosary. 

    As a Carmelite she might not be able to join in the public square rosary physically, but I am certain that she will be uniting her prayers to all of the rally captains and participants throughout the United States on that day.

Believe in a coming chastisement?

Please send your answers to reritchie@gmail.com

10 Question Survey About a Possible Chastisement

1 -Do you believe that God chastises?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

2 - Do you think that today’s world will be chastised?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

3 – In your opinion, is the chastisement:

____ imminent

____ remote

____ not sure

 

4 - Do you think the world can be converted without a chastisement?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

5 - Do you think the world is in the process of conversion?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

6 - Do you believe in Our Lady of Fatima’s warning about a chastisement in case the world does not convert?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

7 - Do you think the sins of our society will cause God to chastise the world?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

8 - Do you think America’s financial troubles could be linked to a possible chastisement?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

9 - Do you think the recent earthquakes and other natural disasters could be part of the chastisement?

____ Yes

____ No

____ Not sure

 

10 – Are you preparing yourself spiritually and otherwise for the eventuality of a chastisement?

____ Yes

____ No

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answers to the 10 Question Fatima Quiz

1 – In what country is Fatima located?

Portugal

2 - Name the three seers:

Jacinta, Francisco, Lucia

3 – What was the prayer that Our Lady asked us to say everyday?

The Rosary

4 – Our Lady referred to certain errors that would spread across the globe if mankind did not convert. What did She call these errors?

The errors of Russia.

5 – What was the event that unexpectedly delayed the August apparition of Our Lady?

The seers were kidnapped and jailed by the Mayor of Ourem.

6 – Our Lady said that if two things were done, a certain nation would convert and there would be peace in the world. What were these two things?

a. The Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart

b. The Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays

7 – Our Lady told the seers a miracle would happen at the October apparition for a certain reason. What was the reason for the miracle?

For all to see and believe.

8 – During the miracle of the sun, the three seers were shown a sequence of three pictures. What were they?

a. The Holy Family

b. Our Lady of Sorrows; Our Lord carrying the Cross

c. Our Lady of Mount Carmel

9 – In the final Fatima apparition in October, Our Lady introduced herself to the seers, calling Herself by a certain title. What was that title?

The Lady of the Rosary.

10 – Our Lady said that Our Lord wished to establish a certain devotion in the world and promised salvation to those who practiced it. What devotion is this?

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

                                                     * * *

Happy with your Fatima IQ?  Or would you like to learn more about Our Lady of Fatima? 

Please go here to read about the entire Fatima message:

http://www.americaneedsfatima.org/Apparitions-of-Our-Lady/

How to fight the good fight TODAY

    The good today are surrounded by evil in every form.  They are not assaulted by one or another evil, but by every evil imaginable.  The good of today are assaulted by the evils of sacrilege, blasphemy, sexual immorality, contraception, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, terrorism, communism, socialism, health care "reform", Satanism, egalitarianism, divorce, family crises, etc.

    The cause of all of this is brilliantly and insightfully explained in the book, Revolution and Counter-Revolution by the late Professor Plinio Correa de Oliveira.  In this inestimable volume, Dr. Plinio profoundly distills the cause, the symptoms and the cure for the contemporary crisis. The name for these combined evils is "The Revolution".  Not a revolution, but rather,  "The Revolution".  This Revolution is the greatest universal rebellion against God, His Holy Catholic Church and Christian Civilization that has taken place in history.

    All of the evils in our society are connected by this Revolution. Each horrific facet feeds the other one.

    The cure is the Counter-Revolution.  Not just a return to the good of the past, but an acceleration of good brought about by the defeat of the Revolution and by the grace of Our Lady, who crushed, and who continues to crush  the head of the serpent.

    With all of the failures and betrayals that we see today of those who should defend what is right, we should not be discouraged but we should pray even more fervently to Our Lady.  She is the ark where we can find safety amidst these violent storms.  She is also the safe harbor we can guide our vessel to in this immense tempest that is our time. 

    It is good also to reflect upon some of the great men of the Old Testament, such as Noa and Lot. They too were surrounded by much evil. Even though few, they remained faithful.  As a reward God protected them and intervened in an unimaginable way to save them.

    If we have confidence and not only remain faithful, but increase our fidelity, He will also save us  in unimaginable ways as well.

Revolution and Counter-Revolution can be purchased at our gift shop or can be viewed online for free at:  http://www.tfp.org/tfp-home/books/revolution-and-counter-revolution.html

Thursday, March 25, 2010

What’s Your Fatima IQ? – QUIZ

Ever wonder how much you know about the Fatima message?

Now’s the time to find out by taking the Fatima Quiz.

It won’t take long. About 90 seconds.

------------------ Quick Fatima Quiz -----------------------

(Please come back tomorrow to get the answers.)

1 – In what country is Fatima located?

___________________

2 - Name the three seers:

_____________

_____________

_____________

3 – What was the prayer that Our Lady asked us to say everyday?

__________

4 – Our Lady referred to certain errors that would spread across the globe if mankind did not convert. What did She call these errors?

____________________

5 – What was the event that unexpectedly delayed the August apparition of Our Lady?

______________________________________

6 – Our Lady said that if two things were done, a certain nation would convert and there would be peace in the world. What were these two things?

1.___________________________ 2. ___________________________

7 – Our Lady told the seers a miracle would happen at the October 1917 apparition for a certain reason. What was the reason for the miracle?

_________________________________

8 – During the miracle of the sun, the three seers were shown a sequence of three scenes or pictures. What were they?

1_________________ 2___________________ 3____________________

9 – In the final Fatima apparition in October, Our Lady introduced herself to the seers, calling Herself by a certain title. What was that title?

_______________

10 – Our Lady said that Our Lord wished to establish a certain devotion in the world and promised salvation to those who practiced it. What devotion is this?

________________

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

In Honor of The Annunciation, March 25

Out of love for us, the Eternal Word was made flesh in the chaste womb of Mary.  His plan was marvelously arranged.  From all eternity, He chose a man after His heart who would be the virginal spouse of His divine Mother, His adopted father on earth, and the guardian of His childhood.

image

While not granting Joseph the same privileges He had granted our Blessed Mother, the Lord adorned his soul with the rarest virtues and raised him to great holiness.

When Our Lady had completed her education in the Temple, she was wed to this humble artisan. Like her, Saint Joseph belonged to the royal race of David, then fallen from its ancient splendor. Also like her, he had consecrated his virginity to God and ardently desired to see with his own eyes the promised Messias, the salvation of Israel.

The Most High had prepared this excellent union by revealing His will to these humble and obedient souls. Mary accepted Joseph as the guarantor of Divine Providence, while Joseph received Mary as a precious treasure entrusted to him by Heaven. Neither one nor the other suspected what blessings the Lord would lavish on their modest dwelling. The young spouses had lived but a short time in the little house of Nazareth when the scene of the Annunciation took place in all of its divine simplicity.

The last days of March had brought the return of spring to the Galilean countryside. The fig trees had begun to unfold their ample leaves and the doves to build their nests in the hollows of the rocks. Flowers dotted the rejuvenated fields. Soon another flower, infinitely more precious, would blossom from the root of Jesse.

In Heaven, the Holy Ghost acclaimed the spotless conception of the Immaculate Virgin with admiration and seemed impatient for the hour when the work of His infinite charity would be fulfilled. No longer did the Divine Spouse wish to delay. He resolved to send an extraordinary messenger to her whom He called “My Spouse” —Soror mea, sponsa.17

God chose the Archangel Gabriel from among the princes of the celestial court who remained constantly before the throne of the Almighty. He entrusted to him the most important and glorious assignment ever confided to a creature, the mission of announcing to the Virgin the awesome mystery of the Incarnation.

All Heaven now looked upon that simple house of Nazareth, where a profound peace reigned. Joseph probably rested from his hard labor. In the adjoining room, his virgin spouse was praying. The angel appeared and respectfully bowed before his Queen. His countenance resplendent with supernatural joy, he said to her, “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”18 Saint Gabriel uttered but the strictest truth.

At the moment of Mary’s conception, divine grace flooded her magnificent soul. Ever since then, this grace had grown ceaselessly in proportions far surpassing our feeble understanding. Now, at this moment, the adorable Trinity wanted this already extraordinary holiness to shine with even greater brilliance: Our Lady would shelter in her womb the very Author of grace.

Yet, the Archangel’s salutation troubled the Immaculate Virgin. By divine enlightenment she had long understood the immensity of God and the nothingness of creatures. In her prodigious humility, she considered herself the lowliest of creatures and thus wondered at receiving such praise. She pondered what hidden meaning could be shrouded in such words.

Seeing this most incomparably perfect of all creatures with such a humble opinion of herself, the celestial ambassador exulted with admiration. “Mary,” he said to the trembling Virgin, “fear not, for thou hast found grace with God.”19

Then slowly, majestically, in the name of the Eternal God, he communicated his sublime message: “Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”20

These words were far too clear to Our Lady for any hesitation in grasping them. She immediately understood the incomparable honor reserved for her. It seems that she experienced no hesitation on account of her virginity. Indeed, it would be a gratuitous insult to her intelligence to suspect her of such ignorance. She was aware of the prophecy of Isaias that the Emmanuel would be born of a virgin.

Rather, she simply sought to know how God, so rich in miracles, would accomplish such a marvel. “How shall this be done,” she asked the angel, “for I know not man?”21 “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. Therefore, the child which shall be born of thee shall be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren; for nothing shall be impossible with God.”22 Profound silence filled that small room in Nazareth, one of those dramatic silences wherein the world’s destiny hangs in the balance.

The angel had ceased speaking and Mary was quiet. How many thoughts crowded in upon her! In her mind’s eye, she saw the resplendent crown divine motherhood would place on her head, yet she remained too profoundly humble for any complacency about this singular grandeur. She saw the indescribable joys that would surely fill her heart when holding her dear treasure against her bosom, her Jesus, both God and infant. Yet again, her self-mortification would not allow that she be guided by the allure of joy alone, even the most holy of joys.

She also saw the awful martyrdom that would rend her soul. Through Holy Scripture she knew that the Messias would be delivered to His death like a tender lamb to the slaughter. She foresaw and heard the mournful cry: “I am a worm, and no man; the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people.”23 Yet, such was her fortitude that she would not allow future sorrow to dishearten her. Above everything, she saw the extremely lofty, fatherly, and holy will of God. She owed obedience to Him; she did not hesitate.

The Immaculate Virgin at last broke the solemn silence. The angel waited to receive her consent in the name of the Holy Ghost. In accepting, she pronounced one of those sublime expressions that only the genius of humility can find. It was the most simple and modest formula of a soul completely submissive to the will of God: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word.”24 At that, the grandest of all miracles took place. From the very flesh of the Immaculate Virgin, the Holy Ghost formed a small human body. To this body He joined a human soul; to this body and soul He united the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the Word of God.

Although it is necessary to explain these three facts separately to make clear what took place, the three took place completely simultaneously as a single act. Not even for a second were this small body and soul separated from the Word. From that first instant the Child formed in the womb of Our Lady was the Word Incarnate. Without losing her virginity, Mary became the Mother of God, and in becoming the Mother of Christ, our Head, she also became the Mother of men—our Mother.

In this chapter I have simply followed the Gospel narrative step by step. We will later study the nearly infinite dignity the Immaculate Virgin confers on divine motherhood. We shall see how this privilege should inspire our Christian hearts to great respect, deep gratitude, limitless confidence, and filial devotion. But let us first complete our meditation on this mystery.

Through God’s infinite love for us, the Word utterly humbled Himself in the womb of the Virgin. At the same time, other events took place in her soul. When God entrusts a mission to one of His creatures, He also provides the grace to accomplish it fully. Thus, the Most High, having granted a double motherhood to the Blessed Virgin Mary (to be mother of God and of men), conferred upon her a love that was doubly maternal. Such was the splendor in this work of grace that we will never perfectly understand it. Never will we completely understand the ardor of Mary’s love for Jesus or the merciful goodness by which the Virgin loves each one of us in particular. Indeed, were we to further reflect upon this mystery, we would pray to her with greater fervor, and serve her with greater zeal. She, in turn, would lavish torrents of grace on us.

The Incarnation had just been completed. Our Lady remained in ecstasy. Every theologian agrees that during this thrice-holy moment God raised her to the most sublime contemplation a pure creature can attain upon earth. Perhaps she was even granted a momentary glimpse of the beatific vision. The Archangel Gabriel had fulfilled his mission. Upon his arrival he had respectfully bowed before the Queen of heaven. Before departing, he prostrated himself, for Mary was no longer alone. In true justice, the Child she bore in her womb merited the adoration of the archangel, who adored the God-made-man and then returned to Heaven.

From this mystery, we must draw a stronger and deeper devotion to the Blessed Virgin. The Church, which encourages us to pay special honor to the Immaculate Mother, does not wish to place her on the same level as the Most High. While Mary reigns over all the angels and saints in Heaven, she is still but a simple creature and, accordingly, an infinite distance stands between her and her adorable Son. Nevertheless, God has united Jesus and Mary so intimately that we cannot separate Them. By consenting to the work of the eternal God, Our Lady has become ipso facto the moral cause of our salvation. She is morally necessary for us to go to Jesus.

Souls today are powerfully attracted to the Heart of Jesus. To penetrate this adorable Heart, the sanctuary of the Divinity, more fully, we must go through Mary. Let us ask Our Lady for the sovereign grace of placing us confidently in the arms of Jesus and there, upon His heart, let us rest both in time and in eternity.

Written by Father Thomas de Saint-Laurent

Tarleton State University Hosts blasphemous “Corpus Christi” Play – Protest now!

Tarleton State University in Texas will host a performance of "Corpus Christi," the Terrence McNally play that depicts Our Lord and the apostles as homosexuals, on Saturday, March 27.

This is an unspeakable blasphemy.  Please write to Tarleton president F. Dominic Dottavio at:

president@tarleton.edu

You can send him a message, such as this one:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr.. Doattavio:

I vehemently protest against the production of the blasphemous play Corpus Christi, which includes a Christ-like figure who reportedly has sexual relations with his apostles.

The Person of Jesus Christ is Sacred and untouchable. To portray Him as a homosexual, or even to insinuate it, is an unspeakable blasphemy which I reject with all my soul.

I ask you to immediately cancel this production and to offer a public apology to Catholics.

Sincerely,

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Neither Health Nor Care

Neither Health Nor Care.jpg
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP)
joins with Americans across the nation in denouncing the Passion Sunday passage of the health care reform bill in the House.

This bill, which passed on a final vote of 219-212, does not promote health care but rather moves the country yet one more step down the road toward State intervention and socialism.

Adding insult to injury, the measure attempted to placate pro-life sentiments with an executive order that cannot guarantee the protection of innocent unborn life. No one can deny that taxpayer-funded abortion is now embedded in the law of the land. Those who changed their votes based on the assurances of this order will soon see just how empty it is.

“The State which would provide everything, absorbing everything into itself, would ultimately become a mere bureaucracy incapable of guaranteeing the very thing which the suffering person − every person − needs: namely, loving personal concern. We do not need a State which regulates and controls everything, but a State which, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity....”

Benedict XVI in his Encyclical Deus Caritas Est, December 25, 2005, n.28.

However, what must especially be remembered is that centralizing health care in the hands of the State will harm the speed and efficiency of the medical assistance being provided. It will destroy the natural and trusting relationships between physicians and other health providers with their patients. It will create a huge bureaucratic machine which will absorb hard-earned taxpayer dollars needed for real health care.

This bill has been termed historic as indeed it is. It is the repetition of the sad history of socialism that has caused so much suffering all over the world.

During the debate, the sides were clearly drawn. The left defined itself by unifying with almost fanatical zeal, the Catholic left, socialists, “progressives,” liberals and so many others.

The passage of this bill has however united all pro-life movements in unanimous rejection of the measure. It has removed any illusions about dealing with the Culture of Death. It has brought new resolve to the new pro-life majority who must now unite in peaceful and legal action to reverse a health care law that provides neither health nor care.

*                    *                    *

To read more on what the Popes have to say regarding State intervention and socialism, click here.
To read more on how socialist intervention in the private sector is not true health care reform, click here.
To read more on the principles of socialism and how the specter of socialism is haunting America, click here.

Catholic Georgetown Students Vote to Fund Abortion Rights Panel

March 23, 2010 (CNews) – In early March, the Student Activities Commission (SAC) of Georgetown University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, voted in favor of funding an abortion “rights” panel on campus, according to The Hoya. Earlier the university partially funded "Sex Positive Week" and held performances of "The Vagina Monologues."

“While Catholics the world over are engaged in penance, prayer and alms giving during this Lenten season, students at America's oldest Catholic university have participated in a perverse series of events that vividly reminds us why our culture is in such trouble,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society, a Catholic education watchdog organization. 

The Hoya article said the pro-abortion event would feature three male panelists in favor of abortion “rights” speaking on the role of men in the pro-abortion movement.  It would be sponsored by a new coalition recently formed by United Feminists and H*yas for Choice called “Plan A: Hoyas for Reproductive Justice.”

The Plan A event was initially denied a request for University support in a Feb. 24 letter from Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olsen.  He wrote: “Through its speech and expression of policy, the university provides students the opportunity to participate in a dialogue on a wide range of issues.”  He continued, “As a Catholic and Jesuit institution, however, Georgetown cannot support organizations whose stated purpose conflicts with Catholic moral teaching.”

According to The Hoya, since SAC voted in early March to allocate $175 for the Plan A event to United Feminists, which is university funded, there has been no official University statement in response.

Plan A’s group website reads, “Plan A: Hoyas for Reproductive Justice is a coalition of students dedicated to changing the way that Georgetown University approaches issues of reproductive justice and choice.”

According to the blog of the Georgetown Voice, Plan A started its events on March 21 with the panel discussion, which was the first event in Georgetown history to not include the pro-life argument in an open discussion of abortion.  Members of the panel included representatives of the National Abortion Federation, Choice USA and GU Men Creating Change.  They “spoke about the importance of male involvement in the pro-choice movement, why male involvement is especially important to the pro-choice movement now, and how Georgetown students can lobby the school to fund more similar events.”

A member of Plan A reportedly said that Sunday’s panel discussion was the only event funded by Georgetown University in the overall Choice Week which is now taking place, also according to the Georgetown Voice blog.

The pro-abortion panel discussion was not the first time this semester that Georgetown students have organized activities that directly undermine fundamental Catholic values or teachings.  In early February, the SAC voted to approve funding for parts of Sex Positive Week.  Among the events this year that received funding and/or approval were “Virginity and Losing It,” “Disability and Sexuality,” and “God and the Erotic.”

The Cardinal Newman Society reported in its March 2010 Campus Notes newsletter that Georgetown University was among the Catholic colleges and universities that were listed as holding a production of the play The Vagina Monologues.  The play favorably describes lesbian activity, group masturbation and, in the word of the Cardinal Newman Society, "the reduction of sexuality to selfish pleasure."  Performances at Catholic colleges and universities are down to 14 in 2010 from 32 in 2003.

According to the website of V-Day, the sponsor organization for the Monologues, performances for the Spring 2010 semester were also scheduled at the following institutions which claim a Catholic identity: Barry University, College of the Holy Cross, College of Saint Benedict, College of Saint Rose, DePaul University, Fordham University, John Carroll University, Loyola University of Chicago, Regis College, Saint Mary’s College of Cal., Seattle University, and the University of San Francisco. In addition, a student newspaper at Boston College reported that the play was hosted on that campus.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Punjab: Christian burned alive dies, Christian community calls for justice

03/23/2010 13:44
PAKISTAN, by Fareed Khan

Arshed Masih, a 38 year-old Pakistani Christian, died yesterday evening at 7.45 from his very serious injuries. The family requests that an autopsy is performed before the funeral. Christian associations and human rights activists demonstrate outside the hospital. Catholic leaders: the federal and provincial government do not punish the guilty.

Full story here:

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Punjab:-Christian-burned-alive-dies,-Christian-community-calls-for-justice-17960.html

The Annunciation and Saint Gabriel

This is a reflection on Saint Gabriel and the Annunciation. It discusses both since the feast of Saint Gabriel the Archangel is on the 24th, the vigil of the Annunciation.

File:Annonciation portail Reims.jpg

(The Annunciation Scene on the Cathedral of  Reims.)

A comment on a passage taken from Saint Luke:

“And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God.

And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

                                                         * * *

As far as I can recall, the only thing we know of Saint Gabriel, the Archangel is found in this episode. He was sent by God to deliver this magnificent message to Our Lady. We can have some idea of what this archangel is like by looking at the nature of the task he was given.

There is a correlation between the angel and his virtue on the one hand, and the mission he receives from God, on the other. Through one, we can make conjectures about the other.

Thus, what was the message that Saint Gabriel, which means “the strength of God,” took to Our Lady? It is a message that affirms the Incarnation of the Word and therefore the greatest act of power and domination that God could exercise upon the world.

With the Incarnation of the Word, God was preparing to rescue the world. In doing this, He, who is king of the world by right, also became king by conquest.

Thus, He – the second Person of the Blessed Trinity – entered the earth to conquer on the cross, in this special way, He established His kingship upon the world.

                         

“Behold the king has come! He is going to reign!”

Saint Gabriel must be seen, therefore, as announcing the victorious entry of Our Lord Jesus Christ into humanity. He was like a herald that goes before a victorious king overcoming all obstacles in his way and announcing: “Behold the king has come! He is going to reign!” This is a first view that we have of this archangel.

Another view we must have is that of the devotee of Mary par excellence. He was the one who made the first Hail Mary; he was the one who gave Our Lady a message that revealed to her who she was. For up until that moment, according to all the interpretations I have read, she did not know she was to become the Mother of God.

She prayed for the Messias to come soon to the earth and also that she might become the servant of His Mother so as to render her some small services. That was her great ambition.
When Gabriel the Archangel came and announced that she herself was going to be the Mother of the Messias, he made her, so to speak, understand who she was. His message explained to her why she had continuously received an immense river of graces throughout her life. She understood the depth of the sanctity for which she was called. The angel’s announcement made her comprehend her own mission.

Hence, when he made this revelation to Mary, he rendered Her this outstanding service, which was an act of supreme nobility ordered by God. As a result, this act established a very special bond between Saint Gabriel and Our Lady. In this sense, he was a kind of prophet who manifested to Our Lady what her whole life would be like and what her mission would be. Thus, another aspect of this archangel’s personality is a great union with Our Lady and a great devotion to her.

Finally, we can consider another side, which is the manner in which he gave his message. It was impregnated with a great purity. No message is more chaste than this one, which announced the virginal maternity. It showed such a love for purity on the part of God, that, in order to safeguard Our Lady’s virginal chastity, He decided on a way to conceive Our Lord Jesus Christ that involved no work of man: She would be the Spouse of the Holy Ghost.

In the Annunciation, the archangel is particularly protective of her purity and chastity.  If we were to see him, he would inspire in us a thousand desires and acts of admiration and longing to possess purity to a eminent degree.

From this, we can draw some applications for the prayers we can still address to him today. Saint Gabriel announced the coming and triumph of the Messias to Our Lady and thus to all men. We should ask that he now announce the recovery of God’s effective kingship upon the earth through the coming of the fulfillment of the Fatima message.

Today we are in a situation that is even worse than that of the ancient world before Our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can ask that Our Lord Jesus Christ reign once again, that He establish His reign on earth in Mary and through Mary, and that this period of darkness in which we find ourselves come to an end. He has done one thing, let Him do the other.

He had the key to do it to close the era of antiquity, and thus opened a new epoch.  Let Him close this era and open the Reign of Mary.

Second: we should ask Saint Gabriel for an enormous, superabundant devotion to Our Lady and that this devotion grows every instant until the end of our lives.

Third: we should ask him for a most ardent, intransigent, vigilant and therefore most militant love of purity; and to have every form of revulsion and disdain for impurity in every way and degree.  This is what we should ask him.  May he thus protect us and bring us closer to Our Lady.

The following text is taken from an informal lecture given by Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. It has been translated and adapted for publication without his revision. –Ed.

Catholic bishops erase progressive Lenten reflections

By Katie Walker, SPERO news:

Less than 24 hours after the Reform CCHD Now (RCN) coalition released a report March 11 condemning the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s version of the Stations of the Cross, the “prayer” was completely scrubbed from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ web site.

The CCHD’s Stations of the Cross transformed a beloved ancient Lenten devotional of the Catholic Church into a “prayer” highlighting the work of CCHD grantees – five of whom are involved in the promotion of abortion and same-sex marriage. The RCN coalition charged that the CCHD’s Stations were “little more than fundraising pitches for pro-abortion and same-sex marriage groups.”

“We’re happy to see the USCCB respond quickly to clean the offensive material from its web site,” said Michael Hichborn, lead researcher on the CCHD for American Life League, an RCN member. “We hope and pray this is the first step in cleaning up the larger problem of the CCHD funding organizations that support abortion and same-sex marriage.”

Full story:

http://www.speroforum.com/a/29074/Catholic-bishops-erase-progressive-Lenten-reflections

Monday, March 22, 2010

See how Our Lady loves you

Blessed, indeed, are those Christians who bind themselves faithfully and completely to Our Lady as to a secure anchor!

14_Sacred Image_022610

The violent storms of the world will not make them founder or carry away their heavenly riches. Blessed are those who enter into her as into another Noah's ark!

The flood waters of sin which engulf so many will not harm them because, as the Church makes Mary say in the words of divine Wisdom, "Those who work with my help - for their salvation - shall not sin."

Blessed are the unfaithful children of unhappy Eve who commit themselves to Mary, the ever-faithful Virgin and Mother who never wavers in her fidelity and never goes back on her trust. She always loves those who love her, not only with deep affection, but with a love that is active and generous. By an abundant outpouring of grace she keeps them from relaxing their effort in the practice of virtue or falling by the wayside through loss of divine grace.

Moved by pure love, this good Mother always accepts whatever is given her in trust, and, once she accepts something, she binds herself in justice by a contract of trusteeship to keep it safe.

Is not someone to whom I entrust the sum of a thousand francs obliged to keep it safe for me so that if it were lost through his negligence he would be responsible for it in strict justice? But nothing we entrust to the faithful Virgin will ever be lost through her negligence. Heaven and earth would pass away sooner than Mary would neglect or betray those who trusted in her.

Poor children of Mary, you are extremely weak and changeable. Your human nature is deeply impaired. It is sadly true that you have been fashioned from the same corrupted nature as the other children of Adam and Eve. But do not let that discourage you. Rejoice and be glad! Here is a secret which I am revealing to you, a secret unknown to most Christians, even the most devout.

Do not leave your gold and silver in your own safes which have already been broken into and rifled many times by the evil one.

They are too small, too flimsy and too old to contain such great and priceless possessions. Do not put pure and clear water from the spring into vessels fouled and infected by sin. Even if sin is no longer there, its odor persists and the water would be contaminated. You do not put choice wine into old casks that have contained sour wine. You would spoil the good wine and run the risk of losing it.

Saint Louis de Montfort

Pro-life group demonstrates over the weekend in Miami

DSCN0042

Our Lady did a great job in stopping traffic so people could see the signs and banners held by a brave group of Catholic pro-lifers who prayed the Rosary at the abortion clinic in Miami on 88 Kendall St. and US 1.

DSCN0040

A gentlemen in a pick up truck stopped traffic and ignored the consequent protest of  horns in the middle of US 1  to ask for a Rosary and some TFP- America Needs Fatima fliers.

We gave him the fliers, and he said:

"Thanks.  God willing I'll be here with my family next week.  When I lived in Peru, we used to pray the Rosary in the street too.”

Socialist Intervention in the Private Sector is Not True Health Care Reform

 

image

(The State is assuming the functions of the private sphere.)

Is there a right to health care and must the State provide it?
The great controversy over health care reform is centered on concerns of countless Americans that proposed legislative changes will move the country yet one more step down the road toward State intervention and socialism.


This concern is well founded. For decades, the State at all levels and branches has increasingly absorbed the functions of the private sphere. It has weakened the social fabric of the nation by usurping many rights and privileges of individuals, families and businesses with excessive regulation and bureaucratic red tape.

It has imposed similar burdens on those private associations which are the natural intermediate bodies between the individual and the State, such as institutions of the Catholic Church1 and other religious bodies; health and educational institutions; trade and labor associations; and countless charitable groups.

Many Americans are now concerned that direct State intervention in health care will go yet farther and lead to the socialization of our economy.

Respecting the Principles of a Christian Social Order

There is no doubt that the State can act within the principle of authority which affirms the need for a moral force in society capable of efficaciously directing and encouraging the actions of all towards the common good of the social body.

However, there are two other pillars of a Christian social order that must be considered. First, the principle of solidarity, derived from the common nature of men, which leads them to show mutual concern and support for others. There is also the principle of subsidiarity— whereby what can be done by an individual or smaller group is not assigned to a larger group.

This principle stems from the fact that man is not only a social being but also a rational, essentially free and responsible being. Thus, he is guaranteed the right to resolve his problems either by himself, through his family or other intermediate social bodies without being obliged to wait for solutions from public authority.

When the State intervenes unnecessarily in the life of its citizens, it invokes the principle of authority to suppress the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. However, while the principle of authority is fundamental for the promotion of the common good, its role is to support and complement the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, not to destroy them.

Without balance and harmony among these three fundamental principles, society falls into disarray and easily slides towards totalitarianism, a regime that respects neither individual rights nor freedom.2

Undue State intervention in the private sphere (that is, individuals, families, businesses, religious and other associations) inexorably leads to socialism.

The Principle of Subsidiarity in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Subsidiarity is among the most constant and characteristic directives of the Church's social doctrine and has been present since the first great social encyclical. It is impossible to promote the dignity of the person without showing concern for the family, groups, associations, local territorial realities; in short, for that aggregate of economic, social, cultural, sports-oriented, recreational, professional and political expressions to which people spontaneously give life and which make it possible for them to achieve effective social growth.

This is the realm of civil society, understood as the sum of the relationships between individuals and intermediate social groupings, which are the first relationships to arise and which come about thanks to “the creative subjectivity of the citizen”.

This network of relationships strengthens the social fabric and constitutes the basis of a true community of persons, making possible the recognition of higher forms of social activity.

The necessity of defending and promoting the original expressions of social life is emphasized by the Church in the Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, in which the principle of subsidiarity is indicated as a most important principle of “social philosophy”.

“Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do.

For every social activity ought of its very nature to furnish help to the members of the body social, and never destroy and absorb them.” (Internal notes omitted)

(Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, nn. 185-186)

Pope Benedict XVI:
“We do not need a State which regulates and controls everything”

“The State which would provide everything, absorbing everything into itself, would ultimately become a mere bureaucracy incapable of guaranteeing the very thing which the suffering person − every person − needs: namely, loving personal concern.

We do not need a State which regulates and controls everything, but a State which, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from the different social forces and combines spontaneity with closeness to those in need. … In the end, the claim that just social structures would make works of charity superfluous masks a materialist conception of man: the mistaken notion that man can live ‘by bread alone’ (Mt 4:4; cf. Dt 8:3) − a conviction that demeans man and ultimately disregards all that is specifically human.”

(Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Dec. 25, 2005, n. 28)

Pope Pius XI:
“No one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist”

“Society, therefore, as Socialism conceives it, can on the one hand neither exist nor be thought of without an obviously excessive use of force; on the other hand, it fosters a liberty no less false, since there is no place in it for true social authority, which rests not on temporal and material advantages but descends from God alone, the Creator and last end of all things.

“If Socialism, like all errors, contains some truth (which, moreover, the Supreme Pontiffs have never denied), it is based nevertheless on a theory of human society peculiar to itself and irreconcilable with true Christianity. Religious socialism, Christian socialism, are contradictory terms; no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist.
(Pius XI, Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, May 15, 1931, nn. 119-120)

Socialism: A Utopian Ideology

Socialism is a utopian ideology that seeks to eliminate human selfishness by destroying individual freedom, private property and free enterprise. Socialists believe they can eliminate injustice by transferring responsibilities from individuals and families to the State. However, their efforts are tantamount to killing the patient to cure his illness.

By suppressing individual responsibility, socialism actually creates the greatest possible injustice because it destroys true liberty, which is every man’s freedom to decide for himself all matters that lie within his competence, to follow the course shown by his own reason, and to keep within the laws of morality and the dictates of justice and charity.

Socialism is anti-natural because it destroys man’s initiative — a fruit of his intellect and free will — which tends to manifest itself in everything he does. When the State replaces individual initiative, socialism’s totalitarian aspect enters with the inherent appearance of government and police repression that has been abundantly seen wherever it is implemented.

health_care_symbol

The state does not have the
obligation to provide health
care.

Is There a Right to Health Care?

According to natural law, man has the right to take care of his own health and physical integrity. However, this individual freedom does not mean that the State must provide for one’s health care at others’ expense.

Take property rights, for example. Every man has the right to acquire property. However, this natural freedom does not oblige the State to give him property. Likewise, the fact that every man has a right to take care of his health needs does not oblige the State to give him direct medical assistance at taxpayers’ expense.

Under natural law, the State’s obligation is to further the common good and guarantee the rule of law so that no one is prevented from seeking the means to obtain treatment, just as no one is prevented from acquiring property.

Thus, in ordinary circumstances, the State is under no strict obligation to provide health care for citizens, though it must foster general conditions that are favorable to the health of all.

The State has no right to intervene directly in health care except in a subsidiary way, as it has done for years, when private initiative (including the efforts of religious and charitable organizations) is unable to provide health care. However, it must do this in a way that never weakens, much less destroys, private initiative.

One might ask how the poor who cannot afford heath care should obtain it. In virtue of the principle of solidarity and above all of Christian charity, it behooves primarily society, through its members, particularly the most wealthy, be it individually, be it through charitable organizations, to come to the aid of those who are unable to provide by themselves for their health needs, as is amply done already through America’s own extensive charitable networks.3

Right to Health Care or to Procure it?

Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, and Most Rev. Robert W. Finn, Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph (Missouri), have made some important distinctions that help clarify the debate.

Quoting from a document of the Catholic Medical Association, the two bishops remind the faithful that instead of speaking of the “Right to Health Care,” it is more appropriate to speak of the “Right to Acquire the Means of Procuring for One’s Self and One’s Family these goods and concomitantly, a duty to exercise virtue (diligence, thrift, charity) in every aspect of their acquisition and discharge.”4

The bishops go on to say that “the right of every individual to access health care does not necessarily suppose an obligation on the part of the government to provide it.…The teaching of the Universal Church has never been to suggest a government socialization of medical services.  Rather, the Church has asserted the rights of every individual to have access to those things most necessary for sustaining and caring for human life, while at the same time insisting on the personal responsibility of each individual to care properly for his or her own health.” Existing safety nets “are not intended to create permanent dependency for individuals or families upon the State, but rather to provide them with the opportunity to regain control over their own lives and their own destiny.”5

State Centralization Obstructs Health Care

To centralize health care in the hands of the State also harms the speed and efficiency of the medical assistance being provided. It further destroys the natural and trusting relationships between physicians and other health providers with their patients. Everything tends to become impersonal and remote.

Centralization is not possible without creating a huge bureaucratic machine which will absorb hard-earned taxpayer dollars which should be applied to those purposes the State is directly responsible for.

Bishops Warn of Dangers

Several other Catholic bishops have emphasized this centralizing aspect of the health care debate. In this sense, Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa warns that health care should not be subject to "federal monopolization" and that "the proper role of government is to regulate the private sector in order to foster healthy competition and curtail abuses. Therefore any legislation that undermines the viability of the private sector is suspect."6

In the same line, Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford, Illinois, writes: "Our federal bureaucracy is a vast wasteland strewn with the carcasses of absurd federal programs which proved infinitely worse than the problems they were established to correct.” He continues: “Modern socialist governments like to control…the means to protect and extend life. Some have called the current efforts of our federal government ‘senioricide’ or ‘infanticide.’ That perhaps is too severe, but we as Catholics should take care that health care does not morph into life control."7

Most Rev. James V. Johnston, Bishop of Cape-Girardeau and Springfield, Missouri, writes: “One might legitimately ask if giving a large, inefficient, but powerful bureaucracy like the federal government control of health care is a wise move. For one, this runs counter to the well-known principle of subsidiarity, so prominent in Catholic social teaching.… Certainly, [the government] has a role to play, but that does not necessarily mean that it should be the sole provider of health care.…The essential element of the principle of subsidiarity is the protection of individual freedoms from unjust micromanagement and manipulation by the state.”8

Likewise, Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver, writes: "[A] proper government role in solving the health-care crisis does not necessarily demand a national public plan, run or supervised by government authorities. Real health-care reform need not automatically translate into federal programming."9

In a letter to the clergy and faithful of his diocese, Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, cites the danger of thinking "the national government is the sole instrument of the common good."10

Abortion and Health Care Reform

Finally, the issue of abortion must be addressed since the nefarious practice is not health care but its contrary. Although proponents have insisted that the various Majority-supported bills will not favor abortion, this assertion does not withstand serious scrutiny. Amendments that would have clearly excluded abortion were rejected in committee. Further, there is every reason to believe that, in the future, the courts could rule that, constitutionally, abortion cannot be excluded from coverage.

The risk that abortion and euthanasia will somehow be included in the health care reform legislation is in itself grounds to oppose it. Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, and numerous other prelates have gone on record to reiterate that this is a line the Church cannot cross.11

In light of the considerations above, the American TFP calls on the nation to redouble its vigilance and its peaceful and legal opposition to any health care reform that favors an increase in State interventionism in the private sector, abortion or other anti-natural initiative.

Socialism will not resolve the problems inside the American health care system. Indeed, it will destroy the present system at its very core and thus irreversibly ruin that which, despite its shortcomings, is universally recognized as one of the best systems in the world.

May Our Lady, Consoler of the Afflicted, help the nation’s elected officials to resist the temptation to implement any kind of socialism. Rather, let them be faithful to the ,morals and principles underpinning a truly Christian and just social order.
September 21, 2009
The American TFP

The above statement was published in The Washington Times of September 22, 2009

___________________________
Footnotes

1 An estimated 25% of America’s hospitals are associated with the Catholic Church. One should also consider the
thousands of Catholic schools and colleges, cemeteries, and untold charitable projects to help the poor.

2 Cf. Baltasar Péres Argos, S.J., “Los Cuatro Pilares fundamentales del Ordem Social y Economico, Segun la Doctrina de la Iglesia,” Verbo, Mar.-Apr. 1991.

3 The right to health care by those who cannot afford it is a right based in charity, not in strict justice. Now then, the rights based in charity “are rights latu sensu as they do not oblige with precision and are not enforceable (legally).” (Régis Jolivet, Traité de Philosophie [Paris: Emmanuel Vitte, 1949], Vol. 4, p. 153 – Our translation).  Cf. Joseph Rickaby, S.J., Moral Philosophy: Ethics, Deontology and Natural Law (London: Longmans, Green & Co., Ltd., 1929), pp. 246-247; Michael D. Greaney, “Universal Health Care—Justice or Charity?”  Social Justice Review, Sept.-Oct. 2003, p. 132.

4 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Bishop Robert W. Finn, Joint Pastoral Statement on Principles of Catholic Social Teaching and Health Care Reform, Aug. 22, 2009,
www.diocese-kcsj.org/news/viewNews.php?nid=60. (The bishops’ emphasis.)

5 Ibid.

6 Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Pastoral Message on the Assumption of Mary, Aug. 17, 2009,
www.scdiocese.org/DioceseofSiouxCity/AssumptionofMary/tabid/415/Default.aspx.

7 Bishop Thomas G. Doran, “Concerns to take to heart in health care and proposed reforms,” The Observer, Aug. 7, 2009 at
observer.rockforddiocese.org/Columnists/BishopThomasGDoran/
BishopDoran2009columns/August72009/tabid/2259/Default.aspx
.

8 Bishop James V. Johnston, “Skinning the ‘Health Care Cat,’” The Mirror, Sept. 4, 2009, at
home.catholicweb.com/diocspfdcape/index.cfm/NewsItem?id=272041

9 Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., “Health care, justice, and the course of our national debate,” Denver Catholic Register, Sept. 2, 2009, at
www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/2491/Archbishop.

10 Bishop Samuel Aquila, Letter of Aug. 28, 2009, at www.fargodiocese.org/Bishop/Homilies/HealthCare20090828.pdf.

11 Cf.  Aug. 11, 2009 letter from Cardinal Justin Rigali as Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Issues to the U.S. House of Representatives, at www.usccb.org/prolife/CardRigaliHealthCareReformLetter-08-11-09.pdf.